Johannesburg; Past and Present

Johannesburg is the capital of the richest province of South Africa, Gauteng. It is one of the most affluent cities in the world and home to Africa’s largest stock exchange. Today, Johannesburg is ranked amongst world class cosmopolitan cities finely blending in many cultures and accepting mass migrations. Also, it is one of the largest metropolitan centers in the world. It is these characteristics that have led Johannesburg flights to become a competitive business for airlines around the world.

In the past, however, Johannesburg was never the way it is now. According to historical evidence, the region where now Johannesburg stands was first inhabited by the San Bushmen. These were hunter-gatherers who came to the region somewhere in 1200s. By the 18th century, a Bantu speaking tribal group known as Sotho-Tswana had abundant population in the region. Hence they took over the land but their rule did not last very long. However, the clan, Sotho-Tswana was a powerful one and its kingdom has spread all the way from present day Botswana up till South Africa. They were more advanced than San Bushmen and practiced cattle farming and mining. Smelting of iron, tin and copper were also amongst their economic practices.

Very soon, the Zulus arrived and captured the land destroying the Sotho-Tswana settlement. This was another short lived kingdom which was replaced by the Dutch who had come in with the help of Sotho-Tswana. Soon after their arrival, the entire region, all the way from Pretoria to Johannesburg came under Dutch rule.

With the advent of 19th century, gold was discovered in the Berberton region which lies at a distance, nearly 400km from Johannesburg. Very soon after the discovery, it was found out that the main source of gold were the foothills of Witwatersand Range. Langlaagte was where gold was first discovered in Johannesburg. It was in the year 1886. The world got attracted to the city. With the increase in Johannesburg’s importance, strains between local and British government also increased. A series of battles took place and British gained control over the land.

Under the British rule, development of Johannesburg started in the 1930s. Around 1970s, the city had grown into an affluent metropolitan center, filled with high rise buildings and a very busy airport. Unfortunately, South Africa then saw Apartheid era which led to Johannesburg’s division into 11 authorities. 7 of these were given to whites and the rest 4 to colored or black populations. For many years, Johannesburg saw bloodshed and misery. With the end of Apartheid, Johannesburg was re-united and its vicinity increased adding in all the surrounding towns and even the poorer colonies.

Today, Johannesburg is home to a number of ethnicities, all living and working peacefully together. The city also boasts world class OR Tambo International Airport which is the busiest airport in Africa. Owing to its economic activities, flights to Johannesburg are in great demand and offered by almost every major international airline.

World class hotels, a spectacular skyline, never ending business activity, 5-star restaurants, thriving nightlife and Americanized luxury shopping malls are what characterize Johannesburg in the present world. Europe is the best place to find cheap flights to Johannesburg as from there tourists and business travelers can find many airlines servicing the city. All these airlines are in a great competition thus, the airfares that they offer are very low.